Strawberry plant variety named ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’, particularly selected for the shelf-life and flavor of its fruit, high mid- to late season yield when grown in low elevation in Central Mexico, and tolerance to  Xanthomonas , is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that isgrown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred inBrittany, France, in the 18^(th) century by crossing Fragaria virginianawith Fragaria chiloensis. Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessoryfruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from thereceptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, seasonof ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certainvarieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development oftheir reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appearhermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female.Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involvespropagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare rootplants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. Duringthe off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright redcolor, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is apopular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in preparedfoods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, thereis a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, thereis a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable,high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria xananassa), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ originated from a crossbetween the proprietary female parent ‘50T403’ (unpatented) and the maleparent ‘DrisStrawEight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,735). Progeny plantsfrom this cross, including ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’, were asexuallypropagated via stolons in Zapotlan, Jalisco, Mexico in March of 2014.Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ was later specificallyidentified and selected in Tangancicuaro, Michoacan, Mexico in Decemberof 2014.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ was subsequently asexually propagated viastolons, and underwent further testing at test plots in Tangancicuaro,Michoacan, Mexico for four years (2015 to 2019). The present variety hasbeen found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successiveasexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ exhibits the following distinguishingcharacteristics when grown under normal horticultural practices inTangancicuaro, Michoacan, Mexico:

-   -   1. Absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration of stolon;    -   2. Touching arrangement of petals;    -   3. Narrow width of band without achenes on fruit; and    -   4. Very firm fruit firmness.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ was particularly selected for the shelf-life andflavor of its fruit, high mid- to late season yield when grown in lowelevation in Central Mexico, and tolerance to Xanthomonas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show fruit of the plant, flowers, leaves, and the plants. Thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are sixmonths old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the upper surfaces and lower surfaces of flowers ofvariety ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

FIG. 4 illustrates leaves of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of whole plants of variety‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

FIG. 6 illustrates an additional view of whole plants of variety‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’. The data which define thesecharacteristics is based on observations taken in Tangancicuaro,Michoacan, Mexico from 2015 to 2019. This description is in accordancewith UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The botanicaldescription of ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ was taken from plants that weresix months old. The indicated values represent averages calculated frommeasurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Species.—Fragaria x ananassa.        -   Common name.—Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawEightyThree’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘50T403’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The variety ‘DrisStrawEight’ (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 20,735).-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—25.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—34.4 cm.        -   Number of crowns per plant.—3.3.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.-   Stolon:    -   -   Average number of daughter plants per square foot.—6.        -   Diameter at bract.—4.02 mm.        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Absent or very weak.        -   Stolon color with anthocyanin coloration (when present).—RHS            144C (Strong yellow green).-   Leaf:    -   -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.        -   Color of upper surface.—RHS 139A (Dark yellowish green).        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 8.8 cm. Width: 7.7 cm.            Length/width ratio: 1.1. Number of teeth/terminal            leaflet: 17. Shape of base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrate to            crenate. Shape in cross section: Convex.        -   Petiole.—Length: 12.3 cm. Diameter: 3.09 mm. Attitude of            hairs: Slightly outwards. Bract frequency (number present on            each petiole): 2.        -   Petiolule.—Length: 7.0 mm. Diameter: 1.86 mm.        -   Stipule.—Length: 3.30 cm. Width: 8.30 mm. Anthocyanin            coloration: Absent or very weak. Anthocyanin color (when            present): RHS 37A (Strong yellowish pink).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position in relation to foliage.—Same level.        -   Pedicel.—Attitude of hairs: Slightly outwards.        -   Flower.—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on            non-flattened flower): 25.7 mm. Arrangement of petals:            Touching. Stamen: Present. Typical and observed number of            flowers per plant: 12.40.        -   Petal.—Length: 12.60 mm. Width: 12.00 mm. Length/width            ratio: 1.1. Typical and observed petal number: 5.3. Color of            upper side: RHS 155C (Greenish white).        -   Calyx.—Diameter (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of            flower): 47.40 mm.        -   Sepal.—Length (sepal tip to point of attachment to            receptacle): 19.20 mm. Width: 10.10 mm. Typical and observed            sepal number: 11.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length.—44.7 mm.        -   Width.—39.30 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.1.        -   Fruit hollow length.—13.40 mm.        -   Fruit hollow width.—5.9 mm.        -   Fruit hollow length/width ratio.—2.3.        -   Shape.—Cordate.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Firmness.—Very firm.        -   Color.—RHS 34A (Vivid reddish orange).        -   Position of achenes.—Level with surface.        -   Position of calyx attachment.—Level with fruit.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Outwards.        -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 32B (Strong reddish            orange).        -   Color of core.—RHS 33C (Strong yellowish pink).-   Production:    -   -   Flowering interval.—September to April.        -   Harvest interval.—October to April.        -   Type of bearing.—Fully remontant.        -   Productivity.—30,773 kg to 54,786 kg of fruit per hectare            per season from six-month-old plants when grown in            Tangancicuaro, Michoacan, Mexico.-   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:    -   -   Heat.—Moderately resistant.        -   Two-spotted spider mite (tetranychus urticae).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Botrytis fruit rot (botrytis cinerea).—Moderately resistant.        -   Powdery mildew (podosphaera macularis).—Moderately            resistant.        -   Xanthomonas (xanthomonas fragariae).—Moderately resistant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ differs from the proprietary female parent‘50T403’ (unpatented) in that fruit of ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ havebetter flavor than fruit of ‘50T403’. In addition, plants of‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ have lower yield than plants of ‘50T403’.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ differs from the male parent ‘DrisStrawEight’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,735) in that fruit of ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ arefirmer and bigger than fruit of ‘DrisStrawEight’. In addition, plants of‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ have higher early season and total yield whencompared with plants of ‘DrisStrawEight’.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ differs from the commercial variety ‘DriscollOsceola’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,752) in that ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ hasan absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration of stolon, a touchingarrangement of petals, a narrow width of band without achenes on fruit,and a very firm fruit firmness, whereas ‘Driscoll Osceola’ has a mediumto strong anthocyanin coloration of stolon, an overlapping arrangementof petals, a very narrow width of band without achenes on fruit, and asoft to medium fruit firmness. Further, ‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ is fullyremontant, while ‘Driscoll Osceola’ is partially remontant.

‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ differs from the commercial variety‘DrisStrawSeventyEight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,655) in that‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ has an absent or very weak anthocyanin colorationof stolon, a touching arrangement of petals, a narrow width of bandwithout achenes on fruit, and a very firm fruit firmness, whereas‘DrisStrawSeventyEight’ has weak anthocyanin coloration of stolon, anoverlapping arrangement of petals, an absent or very narrow width ofband without achenes on fruit, and a medium fruit firmness. Further,‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ is fully remontant, while ‘DrisStrawSeventyEight’is partially remontant.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘DrisStrawEightyThree’ as shown and described herein.